From the depths of my heart, I said: "Your dynasty, you and your house, should remain our chief; but they should be subject to the greater commonwealth." "Subject?" said the Prince. He evidently expected that I would withdraw or modify the word; but I felt that I could not do so. And then he took my hand in his and said: "I knew that these were your thoughts; I assumed as much. But I feel grateful that you have allowed me to hear them from your own lips. Do you believe that the majority of my--or our--people feel as you do?" "No, I do not believe so. That is, they do not feel so to-day, but they will to-morrow. Deeds--deeds of sacrifice--are the most powerful instructors; they teach men what they should think, and even find a voice for what has been slumbering in their souls, but which--through pride and anger, or through want of courage--they have not even dared to think of." "You are not an enthusiast." "I do not believe I am one. The people love the princes from force of habit, and will be none the less glad to love them when reflection and reason permit them to do so." "Have you ever had the desire to occupy a position of authority under the government?" "Certainly; it was my greatest desire, and I believe--" "You ought to be President of the ministry." I replied that I was a practical farmer, and had never been in the government service. "Tell me how you have become what you are," said the Prince, taking a seat opposite me. CHAPTER IV. "I shall gladly tell you all." "The less reserve on your part, the greater my thanks." "I was one of those who were persecuted on account of what at that time was called demagogism. "The soldier who guarded me--he is now a servant in my employ--informed me that I had been sentenced to death, and offered to change clothes with me, in order that I might escape. I refused the offer and remained. We were not sentenced to death, but to imprisonment for ten years. Ten years! A long, long night stared us in the face. "Your Highness has taken me by the hand. Your father declared that he would never voluntarily offer his hand to me or my confederates, although it were necessary to do so if we meant to give him a pledge of our allegiance. "You cannot remember the circumstance. "After being imprisoned for five years, we were pardoned, and I and two of my prison-mates were elected members of the Parliament. "The Jurists objected to our assuming the privileges of citizenship. "The House which acknowledged our election was dissolved, naturally enough, by Metternich's order. A new one met, and, as we had in the meanwhile been re-elected, it confirmed the validity of our election. Your father--I fully acknowledge his many acts of benevolence--was obliged to extend his hand to us in order that we might take the oath.